Chery begins Omoda C4 production in South Africa

Chery Group is moving into vehicle manufacturing in South Africa with plans to build the new Omoda C4 at its Rosslyn plant in Gauteng. This marks the Chinese automaker's first production base on the continent, with commercial sales due to start next year. The company purchased the Rosslyn site from Nissan earlier this year. The project expands Chery's local footprint beyond imported vehicle sales and is part of an accelerated overseas expansion by Chinese original equipment manufacturers. This shift comes amid intensified competition in their domestic market and slowing growth in China.

South Africa is Africa’s second-largest vehicle manufacturing hub and is a key target for Chinese brands seeking market share. Chery also said it plans to position South Africa as its continental hub for manufacturing, exports, and research and development. The Omoda C4 launch will give Chery its first manufacturing base in South Africa before its planned 2027 production targets. Final South African specifications, pricing and launch dates are expected closer to the local introduction of the C4.

Production targets and capacity

Output is expected to total 15,000 units during the third and fourth quarters of 2027 in the initial ramp-up period. The plant will then scale to an annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles.

Localization and supplier development

The Rosslyn facility upgrades and localisation programme aim to boost the proportion of South African-sourced components and develop a domestic supplier base. The move signals an effort to build a domestic supplier base alongside assembly operations.

Model variants and future plans

The C4 is planned for the South African market in petrol, hybrid, and fully electric versions to address different buyer preferences and charging needs. Chery Group stated its intention to add further models at the plant over time. "Chery intends to add further models at the plant over time, including sports utility vehicles from Jetour’s T series," the company said.

Other Chinese automakers are also active in the region. BAIC already operates an assembly and manufacturing plant in the country, while GWM is considering either buying an existing facility or pursuing a production-sharing arrangement with another manufacturer. Chery's global expansion continues elsewhere, with its UK arm unveiling plans last month to launch four new and updated models over the next 12 months. Final South African specifications, pricing and launch dates for the Omoda C4 are expected closer to the local introduction.